REACH

Commission adopts EU-wide formaldehyde restriction

On 14 July 2023, the European Commission adopted measures to better protect people from cancer risks by introducing a maximum emission limit for the carcinogenic substance formaldehyde in a range of consumer products.

The restriction proposal was prepared by ECHA in March 2019. The scientific committees for Risk Assessment and for Socio-Economic Analysis supported the proposal in their opinions of 2020.

New intention to identify a substance of very high concern

One intention has been received for:

• Oligomerisation and alkylation reaction products of 2-phenylpropene and phenol (EC 700-960-7, CAS -).

New substance evaluation conclusions published for CoRAP substances

• Tin sulphate (EC 231-302-2, CAS 7488-55-3) was added to the Community rolling action plan (CoRAP) list in 2016 and evaluated by France.
  
  
• Sodium chlorite (EC 231-836-6, CAS 7758-19-2) was added to the CoRAP list in 2019 and evaluated by Hungary.
  
  
• Propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (EC 202-307-7, CAS 94-13-3) was added to the CoRAP list in 2015 and evaluated by Belgium.
  
  
• Amphoteric Fluorinated Surfactant (EC confidential, CAS confidential) was added to the CoRAP list in 2018 and evaluated by Belgium.
  
  
• A mixture of: 4-(2,2,3-trimethylcyclopent-3-en-1-yl)-1-methyl-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane; 1-(2,2,3-trimethylcyclopent-3-en-1-yl)-5-methyl-6-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane; spiro[cyclohex-3-en-1-yl-[(4,5,6,6a-tetrahydro-3,6',6',6'a-tetramethyl)-1,3'(3'aH)-[2H]cyclopenta[b]furan]; spiro[cyclohex-3-en-1-yl-[4,5,6,6a-tetrahydro-4,6',6',6'a-tetramethyl)-1,3'(3'aH)-[2H]cyclopenta[b]]furan] (EC 422-040-1, CAS 426218-78-2) was added to the CoRAP list in 2016 and evaluated by Spain.
  

Consultations for applications for authorisation and review reports

We have launched a consultation on 12 applications for authorisation and 11 review reports covering a total of 43 uses of: 

• Chromium trioxide (EC 215-607-8), Sodium dichromate (EC 234-190-3), Potassium dichromate (EC 231-906-6), Sodium chromate (231-889-5), Dichromium tris(chromate) (EC 246-356-2) for various uses in the aerospace and defence industry and their supply chains. 

40 of these consultations cover uses of soluble chromates applied for by the member of the Aerospace and Defence Chromates Reauthorisation (ADCR) Consortium.

More information about the uses applied for, including the description of the function of the substance, exposure scenarios, possible alternatives identified by the applicants, together with socio-economic information, is available on our website.

Have your say by using the webform by 11 October 2023.

Assessment of regulatory needs reports published

Reports for the following substance groups are now available on our website:

• Photoinitiators (benzoyl radical precursor type)
• Organic hydroperoxides and aliphatic/cumyl peroxides
• Ethoxylated alcohol phosphates and phosphinic acid derivatives

If you have questions or feedback related to the assessment work, you can send them to us using this webform.

CLP

Consultations on harmonised classification and labelling

We are looking for comments on several harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) proposals. Note the deadlines for different consultations.

• Burgeonal group
  • 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl) propionaldehyde (EC 201-289-8, CAS 80-54-6) and 
  • 4-tert-butylbenzoic acid (EC 202-696-3, CAS 98-73-7) and 
  • 3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)propionaldehyde [1]; 4-tert-butyltoluene [2]; 4-tert-butylbenzaldehyde [3]; methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate [4] (EC 242-016-2 [1]; 202-675-9 [2]; 213-367-9 [3]; 247-768-5 [4], CAS 18127-01-0 [1]; 98-51-1 [2]; 939-97-9 [3]; 26537-19-9 [4])
• Cyclamal group
  • p-cymene; 1-isopropyl-4-methylbenzene (EC 202-796-7, CAS 99-87-6) and
  • 3-p-cumenyl-2-methylpropionaldehyde; 2-methyl-3-(4-isopropylphenyl)propanal [1]; 3-(p-cumenyl)propionaldehyde; 3-(4-isopropylphenyl)propanal [2]; 4-isopropylbenzaldehyde; cuminic aldehyde [3]; 4-isopropylbenzoic acid; cuminic acid [4] (EC 203-161-7 [1]; 231-885-3 [2]; 204-516-9 [3]; 208-642-5 [4], CAS 103-95-7 [1]; 7775-00-0 [2]; 122-03-2 [3]; 536-66-3 [4])

Have your say by 22 September 2023.

• bronopol; 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (EC 200-143-0, CAS 52-51-7)
• 4,4'-methylenediphenol; bisphenol F (EC 210-658-2, CAS 620-92-8)

Have your say by 29 September 2023.

• 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (EC 200-657-5, CAS 67-51-6)
• 3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole(EC 429-130-1, CAS 2820-37-3)
• 3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-ium dihydrogen phosphate (EC 424-640-9, CAS 202842-98-6)
  
  
• borate minerals
  • ulexite (CaNaH12(BO3)5.2H2O) [1]; ulexite (CaNaH12(BO3)5.2H2O), calcined [2] (EC - [1] 296-662-5 [2], CAS 1319-33-1 [1] 92908-33-3 [2]) and
  • colemanite (CaH(BO2)3.2H2O) [1]; boron calcium oxide (B6Ca2O11), hydrate (1:5) [2]; colemanite, calcined [3] (EC - [1] - [2] 296-640-5 [3], CAS 1318-33-8 [1] 854267-07-5 [2] 92908-12-8 [3]) and
  • tincalconite (B4Na2O7.5H2O) (EC -, CAS 12045-88-4)
    
    
• rape oil; rape seed oil (EC 232-299-0, CAS 8002-13-9)

For rape oil; rape seed oil, the proposal format combines the draft (renewal) assessment report prepared according to the Plant Protection Products Regulation and the proposal for CLH under the CLP regulation. For additional information, consult the Commission’s Guidelines on Active Substances and Plant Protection Products.

European Food Safety Authority has already granted approval for rape seed oil. For more information on this active substance and on the studies included in the CLH report, consult the draft assessment report on the European Food Safety Authority's website.

Have your say by 13 October 2023.

New proposal to harmonise classification and labelling

One proposal has been submitted for:

• fluazaindolizine (ISO); 8-chloro-N-[(2-chloro-5-methoxyphenyl)sulfonyl]-6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-carboxamide (EC -, CAS 1254304-22-7).

Biocides

Commission decisions on Union authorisation

The European Commission has granted a Union authorisation for:

• the single biocidal product ‘WESSOCLEAN GOLD LINE’.

Commission decisions approving:

• sulfur dioxide released from sodium metabisulfite for product-type 9
• Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium extract from open and mature flowers of Tanacetum cinerariifolium obtained with supercritical carbon dioxide for product-type 18
• Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium extract from open and mature flowers of Tanacetum cinerariifolium obtained with hydrocarbon solvents for product-type 18

Commission decision not renewing the approval of:

• acrolein for product-type 12.

Open positions

Team leader

We are looking for a dynamic team leader with good interpersonal skills for our facilities, safety and physical security team. 

Check the details in the vacancy notice and apply by 21 August 2023.

ECHA

Scientific committees meet in September

Have a look at the agendas of the upcoming meetings of our scientific committees:

• The Committee for Risk Assessment will have a hybrid meeting on 11-14 September 2023 – agenda.
• The Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis will have a hybrid meeting on 5-8 and 12-13 September 2023 – agenda.
• The Biocidal Products Committee will have a hybrid meeting on 12-14 September 2023 – agenda.

Occupational exposure limits

SCOEL recommendations now on ECHA’s website

You can now find on our website a repository of substances that have been evaluated by the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL). The recommendations and opinions relate to substances that could affect the health of workers and are based on toxicological evaluations.

The SCOEL provided scientific evaluations on occupational exposure limits for the Commission until 2018, after which the work has been carried out by us and our Committee for Risk Assessment.

EU Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON)

Read the latest Nanopinion guest columns

Two new Nanopinions have been published during the summer:

• Dr Fazel Abdolahpur Monikh: A protocol for analysing metallic nanomaterials in biological samples
  
  
• Dr Bentejui Medina-Clavijo and Prof. Andrey Chuvilin: Nanocrystals coating by friction. A new approach for advanced materials

New study identifies status of animal-free test methods for use on nanomaterials

Other

Survey identifying needs for information sharing and training for Safe and Sustainable by Design implementation

Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) invites all stakeholders to support them in identifying the needs for information sharing and training for successfully implementing Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) for chemicals, materials and products.

Have your say by 15 September 2023.

REACH Committee meeting in September – draft agenda available

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